26.08.2012 24 August: Press-conference by Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections

The Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections observation campaign is announcing a press-conference to be held at the Minsk office of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” on 27 August, 2012.

26.08.2012 Rights of Baranavichy activists violated, says UN Human Rights Committee

“The Human Rights Committee, acting under article 5, paragraph 4, of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is of the view that the facts before it disclose a violation by Belarus of article 19 and article 21 of the Covenant,” says the UN Human Rights Committee in its Views adopted on July 27, 2012, as a response to the complaint submitted by Baranavichy pro-democratic activists Siarhei Housha, Viktar Syrytsa and Viktar Meziak.

26.08.2012 Ales Bialiatski on agenda in the Élysée Palace

On 24 August, Mrs. Souhayr Belhassen, president of the International Federation for Human Rights, as well as Mr. Sidiki Kaba, FIDH honorary president, and Mr. Antoine Bernard , FIDH executive director, were received at the Élysée Palace by French President Mr. François Hollande.

26.08.2012 Slonim election commission bans TV debates

Ivan Sheha, member of the Belarusian Popular Front, and Mikhail Karatkevich, activist of the Fair World Party, both running for Parliament in Slonim constituency No. 58, have applied to local election commission for permission to arrange debates on the town’s TV Channel.

26.08.2012 Potential candidates keep appealing denials of registration

Pro-democratic activists from across the country keep submitting appeals against denials of registration as candidates for Parliament.

24.08.2012 UCP Barysau activist appeals denial of registration

Mikhail Vasilyeu, Barysau activist of the United Civil Party, who was denied registration as a candidate for Parliament, is appealing the decision at the Central Election Commission.

24.08.2012 Rahachou activist harassed by KGB

Dzianis Dashkevich, Rahachou activist of the Tell the Truth campaign, who was denied registration as a candidate in the current parliamentary elections, has been questioned by the town’s KGB.

24.08.2012 Mahiliou police detain coordinators of election observation campaign

On 23 August, Mahiliou police detained local coordinators of the “For Free Elections” observation campaign Yury Novikau and Halina Lisitsyna.

23.08.2012 Journalist Mikhail Yanchuk allowed to leave Belarus

Two journalists are still restricted from travelling abroad.

The State Department on Citizenship and Migration removed Belsat TV journalist Mikhail Yanchuk from the database of persons restricted to leave the country. Two journalists still remain on the list of persons banned from leaving Belarus – chief editor of Nasha Niva newspaper Andrei Dynko and Andrei Sannikov's spokesman at the presidential election Alyaksnadr Atroshchankau, Radio Svaboda reminds.

23.08.2012 Vitsebsk activists appeal denials of registration

Vitsebsk pro-democratic activists Lidziya Sahidulina, Siarhei Parsiukevich and Uladzimir Pravalski have lodged complaints with the Central Election Commission, contesting yesterday’s decisions by local election commissions to deny them registration as candidates for Parliament.

23.08.2012 Minsk City Court’s Judicial Board turns down complaint by Hary Pahaniayla

Human rights defender Hary Pahaniayla appealed the judgment of Minsk Maskouski District Court. He asked to recognize actions by the Ministry of Justice and the Interior Ministry illegal, which led to his groundless inclusion in a data bank of "persons restricted to travel".

23.08.2012 Unregistered parliamentary hopeful summoned to Rahachou KGB

Dzianis Dashkevich, opposition activist from the town of Rahachou (Homel region), has been summoned to local KGB office, after he was denied registration as a candidate for Parliament.

23.08.2012 Migalski demands information about Kavalenka's health

Polish member of the European Parliament Marek Migalski is concerns over the situation of political prisoner Syarhei Kavalenka, who serves his term in penal colony No. 19 in Mahilou.

23.08.2012 Brest parliamentary candidate appeals election campaigning restrictions

Ihar Maslouski, Brest leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) running for Parliament in local constituency No. 2, has lodged a complaint with the city’s executive committee, saying the current election campaigning opportunities are extremely limited.

23.08.2012 Young Front activist sentenced to 7 days of arrest

Judge Dzmitry Lukashevich of Minsk Frunzenski District Court has sentenced Mikola Dzemidzenka, activist of the Young Front movement, to 7 days of administrative arrest on “disorderly conduct” charges.